No. 103 September 2012

IINSIDENSIDE FFalklandsalklands nnewsews ppeopleeople politicspolitics ssportport ooilil aandnd mmineralsinerals conservationconservation fi sshinghing agricultureagriculture TM tourismtourism

Lachlan Crowie replicates the iconic 1982 photograph ‘The PDFYomper’ as he marches to Mt TumbledownEditor on June 13 with fellow Cub Scouts in memory of the nine Scots Guards killed in battle Picture Jan Miller Editorial by FIA Chairman Alan Huckle Falkland Islands Association hen the Coalition Government came of engagement between Britain and the Wto power in 2010, there seemed Overseas Territories”. Newsletter to be a marked shift in emphasis in the Signifi cantly for the Falklands, the White UK Government’s attitude towards the Paper reasserts the principle, already Published by: Overseas Territories. It was all rather endorsed in the Government’s Strategic The Falkland Islands heady stuff with both David Cameron and Defence and Security Review,that the Association, Nick Clegg stressing the importance that defence of the Nation and its Overseas Falkland House, both attached to strengthening the UK’s Territories remains “the fi rst duty of London relationship with its Territories. Long-serving Government”. More widely, the White Paper SW1H OBH cynics might have been excused then for repeats the UK Government’s commitment suggesting that this remained mere rhetoric to provide support to the Territories in the Tel 0845 260 4884 until given policy substance. But substance event of natural disaster and to meet “the ISSN 0262-9399 there now is, or at least a major step towards reasonable needs of the Territories, where it, with the publication on 28 June this year fi nancial self-suffi ciency is not possible, as Edited by: of the Government’s White Paper on the a fi rst call on the aid budget”. The safety Sharon Jaf ray Overseas Territories: ‘Security, Success net for the Overseas Territories therefore Stanley and Sustainability’. remains. Falkland Islands The White Paper is the culmination of two The White Paper says that “we want Tel 00 500 52739 years’ work and consultation, processed the Territories to be vibrant, fl ourishing [email protected] through the newly formed National Security communities that proudly retain aspects Council in the Cabinet Offi ce. So what of their British identity”. Well, that is the Editorial Committee is new? One key element is that all UK Falklands to a ‘T’. The prospects for the Ms Cindy Buxton (Chair) Government Departments have accepted Falkland Islands are brighter than ever Mr Allan Huckle that they will take the lead on engaging before; the community is fl ourishing; Mr David Ainslie with the Territories on matters falling within and there is no Territory that holds its Mrs M Christie their competence. Each had to issue a British identity so dear. The only shadow Mr Saul Pitaluga document as part of the White Paper is the oppressive intent of the Argentine exercise setting out where they expected Government. Advertising: to interact with the Territories. This is a real I commend to you David Cameron’s Full page £250 advance, if carried through. Before, the speech (see next page) to the Falkland Half page £125 Overseas Territories tended to be regarded Islands Government’s annual Liberation Quarter page £65 as solely the FCO’s responsibility – after Day reception at Lincoln’s Inn on 14 June Eighth page £35 all, it was argued, they were overseas! this year – the fi rst time that a British Prime Short insert £3 per line Matters rarely got into the Cabinet Offi ce Minister had attended the event. It is well co-ordinating machinery and only a few worth reading in full. He states that he www.i association.com other Departments took their responsibility wants a reasonable, sensible relationship towards the Territoriesseriously. Now, there with Argentina but goes on to say: Release of copyright is provision for a Joint Ministerial Council to “Let me be equally clear on this. When be convened when necessary to deal with it comes to the sovereignty of the Falkland The Editorial Committee problems and to co-ordinate policy towards Islands, there will be absolutely no releases all copyrights the Territories. negotiation. This is not a game of global on the content of Progress since the previous White Paper monopoly with nations passing a territory the Falkland Islands in 1999 is acknowledged. The annual between them… Do not underestimate our Newsletter except on Overseas Territories Consultative Council resolve. Threats will not work. Attempts to pictures, cartoons and (OTCC), to which the government leaders intimidate the Islanders will not succeed maps. Other publications of each Territory are invited, will continue as because Britain stands ready and willing to are invited to quote a forum for collective discussion – and it was stand up for the Falklanders at any time. freely. noticeable that more Ministers from other As long as they wish to remain a British Whitehall Departments attended the last Territory that is the way it will stay.” Howevever, we ask that OTCC than was usually the case. Whilst the Well, not much can get better than that quotations are made in possibility of further constitutional evolution, as a statement of the British Government’s context and the Falkand initiated by the previous White Paper, was commitment to the Falkland Islands and Islands Newsletter not ruled out, generally it was felt that the their defence and security.It came across acknowledged as the fundamental structure of the UK’s relations vibrantly in the Prime Minister’s demeanour source. with its Territories was right – that powers and delivery as he made the speech. And should be devolved to the Territories’ this strength of message and personal For further information elected representatives to the maximum commitment is constantly reasserted by turn to the inside back extent possible consistent with the UK the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, who page or alternatively retaining the powers necessary to discharge made a point of visitingTM the Falklands when contact the Editor Sharon its responsibility for ensuring security and the upcoming general election made the Jaf ray (contact details good governance. The emphasis will now prospect of a Conservative Government a above). be on ensuring closer and more practical possibility. engagement with the Territories. So, whilst the Falkland Islanders might The only slight hesitation an outside perhaps have justifi ably viewed the British PRINTED BY: observer might have is that this comes at Government (and the Foreign Offi ce) with Platinum Press (UK) Ltd a time of economic recession when all a modicum of suspicion in the past, they Tel 0844 880 4722 UK Departments have to examine their should feel fully secure now in the UK spending priorities more carefully than Government’s commitment to uphold and before. But the language of the White Paper defend their right to self-determination. and the personal commitment of the Prime With the development of an oil industry Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues looking more realistic, Falkland Islanders PDFmake it clearEditor that this marks “a new era can look to a bright future.

2 News - politics David Cameron: Argentina’s aggression only shadow on the horizon against the odds at every level, right from face of this, I want to be absolutely clear: the top. When Margaret Thatcher was told this government’s long term goal for Latin that an Argentine fl eet was closing in on America is not bickering and hostility, it the Falklands, she was surrounded by a is partnership. We’ve been expanding chorus of caution. Advisers told her not to our missions, sending more ministers be rash, not to take risks; and if there was on trade visits; we’ve been increasing a diplomatic compromise to be had, then the number of Spanish and Portuguese she should take it. But of course, she was speaking diplomats. With Argentina in having none of it, because she knew what particular, there are so many things we was at stake. Not just the wellbeing of the could and should be working on together: islanders; not just Britain’s self-respect; managing fi sh stocks, increasing trade, but liberty itself. So she gave the order. environmental issues. This is the kind Admiral Sir Henry Leach sent a message of cooperation we need, and that is why to every ship he could fi nd, to make ready we want to have a reasonable, sensible to sail in 48 hours. Civilian ships were relationship with Argentina. requisitioned, a taskforce of more than But let me be equally clear on this. 120 vessels was put together and sent When it comes to the sovereignty of the to the South Atlantic. In retrospect, all of Falkland Islands, there will be absolutely this can seem inevitable but let’s be clear no negotiation. This is not some game of Prime Minister David Cameron that it wasn’t. It needed guts, will and global monopoly, with nations passing addresses the Falkland Islands determination, and the Prime Minister had a territory between them. It is about Government’s annual reception in all three in spades. the Islanders determining their own the Great Hall at the Honourable Retaking the Falklands was, logistically, future. This has been their home for Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London. a nightmare. I think the US Navy called almost 180 years. There are children Mr Cameron is the fi rst Prime it ‘a military impossibility’: an amphibious whose ancestors have lived there for Minister ever to address the assault in terrible conditions many generations. The roots go deep and they annual reception. Picture P Pepper thousands of miles away from home. will not be ripped out. So my message oday the Falkland Islands fl ag fl ew But from the fi rst landing, British troops for the government of Argentina is this: Tover Number 10 Downing Street and showed astonishing courage. We think the UK has no aggressive intentions the Union Jack fl ew over Port Stanley, and of those RAF and Navy pilots who, towards you; accusations of militarisation that is the way things should be. It was despite being outnumbered, managed and nuclear threats are hyperbole and 30 years ago today that the Union Flag to secure the skies over Port Stanley. propaganda; but do not underestimate our was hoisted above Government House in We remember the valour of the Royal resolve. Threats will not work. Attempts to Port Stanley. The Falkland Islands were Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and other intimidate the Islanders will not succeed liberated, a people were freed, and a war merchant seamen on many commercial because Britain stands ready and willing was won. ships. We remember the courage of the to stand up for the Falklanders at any We all have vivid memories of those Royal Marines, the skill of the Paras, the time. As long as they wish to remain a weeks in the spring of 1982. In this Guardsmen, and many other army units British territory that is the way it will stay. room, we’ve got those who fought on who recaptured the islands. But most of And in order to clarify the situation land at places like Goose Green and all we remember those on all sides who beyond any possible doubt, I am Mount Kent in the South Atlantic and in were killed in the confl ict, and especially right behind the proposal to hold a the skies above. We’ve got Islanders the 255 UK servicemen and the three referendum. This is going to be observed who saw their homeland occupied, and islanders who lost their lives. Freedom is by international, independent parties. It we’ve many British people who watched only won and peace is only kept because is going to establish the defi nitive views anxiously from afar. I was a 16-year-old there are exceptionally brave people of the Islanders once and for all. I hope schoolboy at the time and I remember willing to travel to the other side of the the international community, including today rushing back to the radio, trying to world and to lay their lives on the line. So Argentina, will get behind this. I will be fi nd the latest news and listening to those to everyone who served in the Falklands, seeing her at the G20 and I will enjoy calm unfl appable tones of that famous those who are here today and those saying to the President of Argentina, Ministry of Defence spokesman. who aren’t, I say on behalf of the British the people of the Falkland Islands are Above all, I remember those questions people that we are proud of you, and we going to express their own wishes. If you hanging over the war: wasn’t going more will salute you. We will always, always be believe in democracy, if you believe in than 8,000 miles to defend less than in your debt. self-determination, if you don’t believe in 5,000 square miles an act of folly? Was it And for all those who fought, it is right colonialism, you will support what they worth it? Were we still up to it? I may have that today we don’t just look back, but we say. only been 16 but I had no doubt that it was look forwards. There were those who said I want to thank everyone for coming the Falklands would only have a kind of here today – some of you, an extremely the right thing to do. That victory smashed TM all of those questions out of the water. It half-future after the war; they could not long way. I want to express again our showed that Britain wouldn’t be intimated; have been proved more wrong. Against huge debt of gratitude to the servicemen that we could defend our interests; and an incredibly diffi cult global picture, the in this room and those who still serve there that, above all, we would always stand up Falklands’ economy is growing. Industries today. For you and your comrades who for what is right, whatever it took. like fi sheries and tourism are thriving. I’d fell, I want to reiterate the government’s This anniversary today is a chance for like to let the Chancellor of the Exchequer commitment to the cause you fought us to do two important things. To look back know there is a healthy fi scal surplus. for. We will always do our duty by the at what happened and remember those Indeed there is only one shadow on Falklands, and we will never ever forget who fell; and, as they would have wished, the horizon, and that is the aggression the sacrifi ces that were made there. to look forward to what the future holds for from over the water. We have seen the Thank you. the Falklands. Now fi rst, looking back on President of Argentina trying to restrict this confl ict, there is one thing that shines the movement of Falklands’ vessels, banning charter fl ights to and from More pictures from right through, through all the years, and Lincoln’s Inn on page 20 PDFthat is the courage that Britain showed EditorArgentina, and today escalating the debate at the United Nations. Now in the

3 News - politics Keith Brown makes poignant journey to the Falklands A FORMER Royal Marine who events, individuals would sidle up While visiting the site on Two served in the Falklands, Keith to veterans and say, ‘Thank you for Sisters where, on the night of 11June Brown has been the Member of coming, and especially, thank you for 1982, we tried to sleep, in freezing the Scottish Parliament for Ochil what you did 30 years ago’. conditions, after successfully having Constituency since May 2007. In turn I would like to thank the people re-taken what now appears to me Here he tells of his journey in early and the Government of the Falkland to be a virtually impregnable peak, June to commemorate the 30th Islands for their warm hospitality. I was asked by a BBC journalist if I anniversary of the Falklands War For my part, on a personal level, I thought the efforts of all concerned, am very proud of the achievements and the death and injury of hundreds Ihad the great privilege of of the people I served with all those of individuals, were ‘worth it’. I tried to representing veterans from years ago, and of the guarantee of express as best I could, why I thought Scotland at the commemorative democratic rights that the re-invasion that it was without question “worth it”. events marking the Liberation of the secured. However, this was done much more Falkland Islands in June. It was interesting to note the eloquently than I could manage when, As it happens, the night before description by one newspaper in the on the way back to Port Stanley the making the 16,000 mile round trip UK that the visit was an “enjoyable car radio informed us that the Falkland I was speaking with a veteran of fi ve day jolly”. I don’t believe that Islands government had decided to the confl ict. He related how, in the any of the participants saw it that have a referendum, through which intervening period, he had struggled way. Two days were taken up by the the Islanders can freely express their to develop a career and had drifted 18 hour fl ights both there and back. decision on how the Islands should in and out of bouts of depression and Immediately upon landing we were manage their future. mental health diffi culties since 1982. driven to Fitzroy to commemorate the In 1982 the re-invasion was As Minister for Veterans in the Welsh Guards, merchant seamen, controversial, as were the alleged Scottish Government, I regularly meet medical staff and engineers who actions and inaction of previous veterans of the Falklands and other perished there during that awful governments in not making confl icts. Some are fortunate enough attack, 30 years ago. Over the next suffi ciently clear to the Argentinians to have been able to put the traumatic two days, visits to battlefi elds like Two that any aggressive action would be experiences they have endured Sisters, to San Carlos Bay (by planes wholeheartedly opposed. However, ‘behind’ them, while many others fi nd taking the same fl ight path as the the right of people to take the it an agonising struggle to do so. It Argentine Mirage and Super Etendard decisions on their future themselves is now recognised that post-traumatic aircraft, that turned that beautiful Bay was and should, in my view, remain stress disorder can take up to 20 into ‘Bomb Alley’!), and the moving paramount. years or longer to manifest itself. (albeit freezing) ‘Liberation Day’ The prospect of the Falkland Whatever their experience since commemorative event, all made a Islanders exercising their democratic 1982, there is no doubting the poignant visit anything but ‘jolly’. right to determine their own future magnitude of their achievement in Afterwards, during a reception to is, at least to my mind, the perfect re-taking the Islands. Travelling half mark the anniversary of liberation, I expression of the legacy won for them way across the world, at the end of a slipped away with (ex Special Boat by the likes of Royal Marine Keith huge logistical chain, without the air Service) Falkland Islander, Mike Phillips, who died on June 10, 1982, superiority, or the 3:1 preponderance Rendell, who had offered to take me and the veteran I met almost exactly of troops which were both meant to be to the site of the tragic ‘blue on blue’ 30 years to the day later, who is still essential according to military wisdom incident where four of my colleagues fi ghting his own battles on a daily for a successful re-invasion, they still in 45 Commando’s Mortar Troop, babasis.sis. prevailed. were killed. These included married It was for these two reasons: to father, Sgt Bob Leeming, young acknowledge the professionalism and Corporals in their twenties, Andy outstanding effort of the veterans of Uren and Pete Fitton, and 20 year old the Task Force, as well as the sacrifi ce Marine Keith Phillips. Having myself made by those who died in that been a 20 year old Marine with Mortar endeavour, and the continuing price Troop called Keith, I contemplated the being paid by those damaged in body seemingly random basis upon which or spirit, that I wanted to be able to fate decided who falls and who does represent veterans from Scotland as not. I quietly toasted their memories TM part of the Falklands commemorative along with Mike in the open ground events this past week. between Mount Kent and Two Sisters. One striking aspect of this visit was the enduring appreciation of Falkland PDFIslanders. At various commemorative Editor

4 News Islanders will vote on political future he Falkland Islands Government is to hold a Treferendum on the Islanders wishes for their political future next year, “with the full support of the British Government, to eliminate any possible doubt about our wishes,” Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Gavin Short announced on June 12. MLA Short made the announcement in the Court and Council Chambers in the company of His Excellency the Governor Nigel Haywood and visiting Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Minister of State Jeremy Browne. But any hopes it may assist in convincing the Argentine government of the Falklands population’s views were immediately quashed as the Head of the Commission for External Relations of the Chamber of Deputies, Guillermo Carmona, was quoted in La Nacion as saying: “This has no value as Argentina rejects the possibility of self-determination for an implanted population, as the British population of the Islands is.” MLA Short said he had no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish the Islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. “We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government of Buenos Aires: a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the Islands and heard our views. He said careful thought had been given to how best to convey a strong message to the outside world, “that expressed the view of the Falklands people in a clear democratic and incontestable way.” FCO Minister Jeremy Browne, said: “Only the Falkland Islands people can determine how they wish to be governed. So I very much support this initiative by the Falkland Islands Government. “Indeed, I believe this referendum is a truly signifi cant moment. It will give the Falkland Islands people the opportunity to send a clear message – not just to Argentina, but to the whole of the international Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce Minister of State community – that the Islanders, and they alone are Jeremy Browne with Falklands Member of the Legislative masters of their fate.” Assembly Gavin Short Picture Penguin News Gosport remembers 1982 ecretary of the UK Falkland Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, SAndrew Rosindell MP and Caroline Dineage MP were guests at a Service of Commemoration for the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War held in Gosport on May 27. Attended by around 250 Falklands veterans, next of kin of those who were killed, youth groups, civic dignitaries and military guests, the service was accompanied by music from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines. TM In a moving ceremony, local students read out the names of all those who were killed. Three single yellow roses were laid to remember the Falkland Islanders who died and two hundred and fi fty fi ve single carnations to remember those killed in action, at the Falkland Islands memorial stone by next of kin, students and invited guests. Following the service, veterans marched down the High Street to applause from the many Gosport residents who had turned out to watch the event. The salute was taken by Rear Admiral Chris Parry CBE MA (Oxon) with the Mayor of Gosport. The Falklands were represented by the Chairman of the local branch of SAMA (82) Gary Clement and the Falkland Islands Government Representative, Sukey Cameron MBE. PDF EditorPicture S Cameron

5 News - people Falklands focus at Kent conference HE remarkable recovery of the HMS Conqueror, sank the Belgrano. TFalklands Islands from the 1982 Brigadier David Chaundler invasion and the Islanders’ impressive described his fraught experience of achievements since have been given parachuting in to replace Lieutenant valuable publicity at a three-day Colonel H Jones, killed at Goose conference at Kent University in the Green, one of the two Victoria Cross United Kingdom marking the 30th winners. anniversary. Among the academics, Professor It was attended by a distinguished Sir Lawrence Freedman told how he group of academics, military wrote the offi cial history of the confl ict. commanders, journalists, and three Professor Klaus Dodds emphasised former governors, Alan Huckle, David the Britishness of the Falkland Tatham and Howard Pearce. Islanders and their affection for the A retrospective look at the invasion Queen. night by former Falklands Director of Doctor Celia Szusterman, an Broadcasting, Patrick Watts was one of Argentine with British citizenship, the most impressive representations, spoke about, “monitoring the struggle standing out among many given by for the Malvinas and its role in distinguished historians. Argentine life.” Delivered with panache, it was a Former Falklands radio station Her criticism of the Falkland riveting minute-by-minute account of manager Patrick Watts delivered Islanders for what she regarded as his marathon night invasion broadcast, a restrospective look at the a biased account of the sovereignty illustrated by extracts of the broadcast events of April 2, 1982 dispute went unchallenged with no itself, including phone-in eye-witness mention of Argentina’s distorted contributions by Islanders themselves Former BBC broadcaster Harold version. She made the bizarre claim monitoring the advance of Argentine Briley mentioned the rapport the that if the Argentines had won, the soldiers and armoured vehicles and Islanders had with the BBC and their consequence would have been the calm, authoritative voice of the continuing bond with and hospitality to invasion by Guatemala of the other Governor, Rex Hunt, describing the the South Atlantic Medal veterans in former British colony, Belize, which unfolding drama and giving advice to gratitude for liberation. was strongly defended by British Islanders for their safety. The conference was opened by infantry, artillery and Harrier aircraft. But the conference organisers the Defence Secretary at the time of She ignored what Argentina said it did what Argentine guns pointing at the invasion, John Nott, who hinted would have defi nitely done - invade Patrick’s back failed to do – cut him that if he had been Prime Minister he Chile - so creating a much wider off in full fl ow through time limitation. would not have sent the Task Force to regional war. The progress of the Islands as liberate the Islands. That would have A media panel chaired by BBC a vibrant, prosperous democracy been in line with his pessimistic advice correspondent Alan Little included and promising projects for future that the Islands could not be retaken, a former senior BBC executive, development were outlined with a view rejected only when the head Dame Jenny Abramsky and three detailed analysis and statistics by of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Henry correspondents giving personal Legislative Assembly Member, Dick Leach, said the Task Force could sail reminiscences of their experience with Sawle. within days to retake the islands. the Task Force, Robert Fox (BBC), Professor Jim McAdam praised Mr Nott also said he had no idea Michael Nicholson (ITN) and John Lord Shackleton’s post-invasion where leaks to the BBC about Task Shirley (representing newspapers). economic report for paving the way Force deployments came from, yet it A presentation about the BBC World to prosperity as its recommendations was widely accepted his own Ministry Service was axed from the media were carried out and he drew students’ was the source. programme. attention to the opportunities offered Presentations were given by three Kent University at Canterbury is a by Shackleton Fund Scholarships. outstanding Task Force commanders modern, forward-looking university In a brief intervention, London whose actions were a vital contribution which has focused on the Falkland Representative Sukey Cameron, to the campaign, Major General Julian sconfl ict and encouraged its students attending as an observer, told Thompson and Commodore Michael to study it. The conference was the conference what a valuable Clapp, who gave a detailed account organised by its Professor of Modern information and morale-boosting of the amphibious landing and the History, Mark Connolly, and Professor channel the now defunct BBC “Calling land campaign, and Captain Chris of Journalism, Tim Luckhurst. the Falklands” programme had been Wreford-Brown, with a modest matter- Harold Briley but now defunct. of-fact account of how his submarine, TM London PDF Editor

6 News - people

Tonisha and Victoria with Rear Admiral Middleton at the Fying the Falklands fl ag at Sexey School with Fleet Air Arm Museum Picture Steve Roberts Mrs Brook (right) Pictures Emma Brook Fleet Air Arm exhibit Falklands 30 ONISHA Courtney and Victoria teacher Emma Brook, who having creating the project. Rear Admiral TWilliams were the two Falkland helped co-ordinate the project, Linley Middleton, who was the Captain Islands students lucky enough to accompanied the girls. of HMS Hermes in 1982, thanked the have their names pulled out of the hat The students and Mrs Brook left the students for making the journey before to make the journey to the UK for the Islands on June 25 and making the he formally opened the exhibition. opening of the Falklands 30 exhibition Falkland Islands Government Offi ce Mrs Brook said all the people present at the Fleet Air Arm museum in fl at in London their base, explored were very impressed with how the Yeovilton. the city. The Tower of London, the girls presented themselves and the Last year the Fleet Air Arm Crown Jewels, Royal Armoury and a work the FI Community School had contacted the Falkland Islands Beefeater’s guided tour were among contributed to the exhibit. Community School to see if they the highlights as well a visit to the “The presence of the Falklands at would be interested in a school Houses of Parliament to learn about the Fleet Air Arm museum was very exchange programme with Sexey how the Government works. welcome and invited guests were School in Bruton, Somerset, looking After meeting up with their very pleased to see that we had made at the Falklands War and the effect it counterparts from Sexey School the such an effort to attend. The exhibit had had on the people of the Islands group made their way to the Fleet Air refl ects the progress the Islands have over the last 30 years. Arm Museum and met the teachers made over the past 30 years and the The project was open to all students and pupils of two infant schools, who students work both from the Infant in KS3, years 7, 8 and 9; each year took part in the project. Tonisha and Junior School and FICS has certainly being asked to present a different Victoria addressed the large gathering helped push across the message that aspect of the Falklands. “All students and explained their work and thanked the Falkland Islands are British and worked hard and produced some the Fleet Air Arm Museum for the wish to determine their own future,” excellent items,” said geography invitation to attend as well as for said Mrs Brook. Pangbourne memorial he Annual Service of Remembrance was held Tat the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne on Sunday June 17. As it marked the 30th anniversary of the war a marquee was erected to extend the nave to hold the large number of veterans, families of the fallen and dignitaries - a total of 850 people. Falklands Member of the Legislative Assembly Dick Sawle was in attendance alongTM with Government representative Sukey Cameron and Islander Marvin Clarke. The service was conducted by the Chaplain of Pangbourne College, the Reverend Neil Jeffers, and began with “Eight Bells” rung on the bell from RFA Sir Galahad by her captain in 1982 Captain Philip Roberts. The Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mrs Bayliss, presented the Queen Elizabeth Cross to members of seven families who had lost loved ones in the 1982 war. The address was by the Right Reverend Stephen Venner, Bishop to the Forces and for the Falkland PDFColonel Mike Bowles and his wife RosEditor Picture P Pepper Islands.

7 TM PDF Editor

8 Liberation Day Honouring the gift of freedom une 14, Liberation Day dawns early the Liberation Monument as the softly eggs was duly cut and enjoyed by the Jin many Falklands households falling snow increased in volume community. as families and friends gather for a becoming a white out. Chairman of the 2012 Committee special breakfast and to collect their Shoulders back, heads high and Lewis Clifton OBE said: “ The focus thoughts for the commemorations and collars fi rmly turned down today’s of the 30th Anniversary of Liberation celebrations ahead. forces along with the veterans of 1982 Year has been to look forward while This year as the 30th anniversary of marched into the blizzard towards the acknowledging and promoting the the War there was an awareness it was Liberation Monument. younger generation who have proudly possibly the last major anniversary The Act of Remembrance took place taken up the mantle of leadership that veterans and Islanders would surrounded by hundreds of residents and commitment to the economic assemble in numbers and a quiet undeterred by the weather about and political development of our determination that it would be one to which many were heard to say, “being Islands. The foundation stones of our remember. cold is a small price to pay compared development are fi rmly constructed The packed Christ Church to what the boys went through in ’82.” upon the legacy of human sacrifi ce to Cathedral and adjoining annex was Following the Last Post, Silence and restore our freedom in 1982.” testimony that the need to pay respect Reveille, wreaths were taken from Sharon Jaffray to the fallen had not diminished over young bearers selected the years. from youth groups and His Excellency the Governor, placed at the memorial. Commander British Forces South The inclement conditions Atlantic Islands, visiting dignitaries prevented the planned and the people of the Falklands joined fl y past from taking place together in a service of remembrance and following the Royal with music provided by the Salamanca Salute and march past, Band of The Rifl es. British Forces exercised Representatives of the Falkland their accorded Freedom Islands Defence Force, youth groups of the Falkland Islands and 1982 veterans were also in supported by the FIDF attendance. and marched to the Jetty The parade consisting of Centre to the west of the detachments from the Royal Navy, Monument. the Parachute Regiment, Royal Air The Defence Force Hall Force, Falkland Islands Defence was soon crowded out for Force and its Association formed up the Civic Reception and outside the Cathedral for the march to family event which lasted throughout the day and evening. A vast cake baked and shaped VeteransVeterans to 1:100 scale of HMS Invincible marchmarch by the Community School students eeastast containing 100 kgs of fl our and 400

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9 News - social

At a signal from the starter the courageous swimmers charge into the icy sea Pictures Penguin News or the 18th consecutive year Fhundreds of scantily clad souls have taken to the sea to raise funds Midwinter swimmers for the Sea Cadets and Seaman’s Mission and gain their certifi cate of lunacy on the Saturday nearest mid- take to the icy Atlantic winters day. This year’s swimmers were rewarded with bright sunshine and an ice-free beach at Surf Bay near Stanley, but nothing could alter the fact the water temperature would be about seven degrees Celsius when they charged into the heavy waves. The event has proved increasingly popular with Mount Pleasant military base personnel and that 128 of the 194 entrants were from there proved that the individual certifi cates, signed by the Governor of the Falkland Islands, are a much sought after souvenir of a winter tour. After warming up at the roaring fi res dotted along the beach, many of the swimmers made their way into Stanley where in the pubs mulled wine and the occasional hot toddy reached chilled extremities. Once completely submerged the human wave returns to shore

elebrating the 30th anniversary Cof Liberation, 208 of those Refl ection reception living in Stanley in 1982 gathered in the Town Hall to refl ect on their experiences and remember those no longer with them. On June 14, 1982 there were approximately 633 residents in Stanley, 250 of whose signatures have been immortalised in embroidery on a linen tablecloth by Caroline Villegas. The linen cloth started out as a sheet belonging to the late Mrs Grace Goss.TM Jill Harris (her daughter) shaped the table cloth from it and all of the silks used were from the late Maud Sollis’ old sewing box. “So the cloth and silks were decades old, hence quite a history before even getting started on the signatures,” said Rosie King who helped organise the event. 258 candles were lit to represent those that paid the ultimate sacrifi ce. For more pictures visit PDF Editorwww.normanclarkphotography.org

10 Diamond Jubilee Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee hile The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Wevents were taking place in the UK, Islanders were celebrating their Sovereign’s 60 years of reign in their own special way. Never needing any excuse to wave the Union fl ag, the combination of the Jubilee and the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war gave cause for vehicles, buildings and every available fl agpole Island-wide to be adorned with red, white and bue. As well as many a glass being raised, traditional tea and street parties, crown- making competitions and a Jubilee ball with a fancy dress theme were well attended while also enjoying the fantastic coverage of events in her Majesty’s honour on television. The Jubilee Ball organised by the Infant and Junior School Committee attracted some inspired costumes with some opting to emulate her Majesty’s dress style, while others took the Lynn and Andy Brownlee create a Union theme more literally and took on the costumes of Freddy Mercury collage Picture Leeann Harris and his band Queen. imagination, as I watched all the Queen’s But while the fun went on there horses at the pageant at Windsor, I swear there was an underlying note of respect was more of a twinkle in her eye then, than at for the work and the pressures any of the other events. under which her Majesty and family This affi nity reaches out to even those who members carry out their duties, and don’t profess to be devoted Royalists as was particularly for the Queen as she proved with Penguin News editor Lisa Watson, soldiered on even when part way through the who said: “The truth is I am not a great follower celebrtions Prince Phillip was hospitalised. Not of the doings of the Royal family, but when Queenly grouse hunter for her the luxury of being able to do what any you get down to brass tacks it’s diffi cult not to Roddy Cordiero, best other wife would want and be at the side of her admire a woman who works ridiculously hard, dressed winner at the husband of 64 years. can blast a shotgun, ride a horse, control a Jubilee Ball For myself the Queen’s love of horses and pack of unruly dogs and grandchildren and has Picture Leeann Harris the great outdoors will always hold her close managed to stay married to the same man for in my affection and while maybe it was in my decades. All of my own Mum’s best attributes, what’s not to like.” Sharon Jaffray espite the freezing cold Dweather and a rising tide, hundreds of Islanders gathered on the beach at Surf Bay on June 4 to celebrate her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and join in the lighting of the 4,000 beacons around the world. The massive stack of wooden pallets roared into fl ame with just one match from the steady hand of event organiser John Clifford and immediately raised the temperature for those TM dodging the waves seeping in under the bar tent or bopping around in the music marquee. For the children the novelty of building sandcastles on the beach with sodden feet and soggy trousers conveniently concealed by the dark while enjoying a hot snack and sweets will surely be an abiding memory of celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 year PDFreign. Editor

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12 Tourism

Hattie and Kevin Kilmartin and Lisa Watson Arlette Betts (left) with friends at the gala event Tourism operators awarded perators were awarded for their work within the tourism industry for the Ofi rst time this year with a scheme initiated by the The Falkland Islands Tourist Board. Customers world-wide were able to vote for a number of categories on Facebook and other online venues and soon numbers were building up and the race was on. A gala ball was organised for the award ceremony with the winners kept secret up until the very last moment - another fi rst for the Falklands. Tourist Board Chairman Legislative Assembly Member Mike Summers announced the winners to a delighted crowd, almost all who had worked within tourism throughout the previous season. Hattie and Kevin Kilmartin were winners of the Best Visitor Experience award sponsored by Footprint with Neil and Glenda Watson of Long Island farm the fellow fi nalist represented by their daughter Lisa (pictured top left). Sam Davies of the Falkland Islands Company Ltd was awarded for Out- standing Customer Service sponsored by the Development Corporation with tourism pioneer Rob McGill of Carcass Island as joint fi nalist. Malvina House Hotel chef Matthew Clarke who takes pride in using the freshest of Falklands ingredients was the winner of the Taste of the Falklands award sponsored by Seafi sh Chandlery with Bluff Cove Cafe owned by Kevin and Hattie Kilmartin the fellow fi nalist. Arlette Betts who owns and operates Lafone House was rewarded for her hard work throughout the year by claiming the International Tours and Travel sponsored Best Catered Accommodation award, having pipped Malvina House Hotel to the post for the honour. Popular winner of the Outstanding Owen Betts collected the Tour Guide of the Year award on behalf of Patrick Contribution award Kay McCallum Watts who was not in the Islands with Derek Pettersson also a fi nalist in this category. Debs Summers who now works within the tourism industry in New Zealand was instrumental in setting up many aspects of cruise and land tourism in the Falklands and is still spreading the good word on her travels, was awarded Best Falklands Ambassador for her work, with John and Michelle Jones from Race Point also fi nalists in this category. The fi nal and extremely popular recipient was Kay McCallum who provides a home from home and a great insight into life in the Falklands from her B&B in Stanley. Kay was recognised for her work with an Outstanding Contribution award, selected by the Tourist Board. TM

A happy Sam Davies collects her PDFaward for customer service Editor Pictures Penguin News 13 Parades and memorials - April LLocalocal heroesheroes rrecognisedecognised

“ e meet today to commemorate the mobilisation of Wthe Falkland Islands Defence Force on the night of April 1st, 1982. We honour the courage and determination of the men who went out to defend the Falkland Islands from invasion and we remember the sacrifi ce made by the families who waited in apprehension and uncertainty for their return,” said the Rev Richard Hines at the cer- emony of commemoration held on Sunday at the Libera- tion Monument. Whether in the end they had the chance to fi re a shot from their largely obsolete weapons or not is irrelevant; what does matter is that they obeyed their country’s call to arms without knowing what fate had in store for them. Until now the courage they displayed has perhaps not been properly recognised, over-shadowed as it has been Above: Falkland Islands Defence Force members line by the more obvious feats of arms that were to follow. up at the 1982 Memorial What needs to be remembered is that in 1982 the Falk- land Islands Defence Force was not the well-trained and For all these reasons it was good to see a large crowd well-armed fi ghting force it is today, but when the call to gathered on Sunday at the 1982 Monument to demon- action came they did not hesitate to respond. strate by their presence their pride in these truly home- To add to their diffi culties, the few heavy weapons they grown heroes and to pay tribute to them. Good also to had in their armoury had been taken by the Royal Marines publicly acknowledge the sacrifi ce of the families who who had left on HMS Endurance to fi nd out what was hap- waited anxiously not knowing whether their sons, fathers pening at South Georgia. or brothers would return. Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday

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arching contingents of the Falkland Islands Defence Force and British Forces South MAtlantic Islands took up their positions above Victory Green as a ray of sunshine warmed the spectators on April 28, to honour Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday. Also on parade with their banners were Stanley’s uniformed youth associations. The occasion was marked by a 21 gun salute under the command of a detachment of the Falkland Islands Defence Force. HMS Clyde at anchor in Stanley Harbour provided His Excellency the PDFa backdrop to a fl y past by a Search and RescueEditor Sea King helicopter accompanied by Governor Nigel Haywood a rousing chorus of “Three cheeers for her Majesty the Queen.”

14 Parades and memorials - May

Islanders and military personnel gather at Blue Beach Cemetery on May 21 to remember the British fallen Landing Day ore than 200 members of the representatives from the Islands’ MFalklands civilian and military churches and wreaths laid by Army, communities gathered at the Blue Air Force and Navy personnel as Beach Cemetery on May 21, to refl ect well as many members of the civilian upon the sacrifi ce and effort made by community; several of whom had the British Forces as the fi rst landings been at San Carlos and welcomed the were made at San Carlos on May 21, British troops arrival in 1982. 1982. On the back of the successful rally It seemed every available parking in Stanley in February, Norman Clark space had been fi lled within the had arranged for vehicles making their settlement and the light wind caused way to Blue Beach to get together and Commander British Forces South the many Union fl ags to unfurl and travel in convoy. Atlantic Islands Brigadier Bill create a splash of colour against the Bring a fl ag and a big smile,” he said Aldridge and Acting Governor Ric winter skies. prior to the event as he encouraged Nye The service was conducted by drivers to join him. Goose Green vets remember together

oose Green Manager Keith GAlazia with 2 Para veterans of the 1982 Battle for Goose Green, Alan ‘Mouse’ Walker, Kevin Ormond, Matt Baker and John Bell displaying the fl ag that John, “acquired,” from the ferry Norland (requisitioned as a Task Force troop ship) and carried by him throughout the war. The fl ag has since been signed by all the veterans that visited for the 25th anniversary of the war as well as Goose Green residents and gifted to the settlement club. John and Mouse, who were accompanied by wives Vivien and TM Wendy, arrived on May 23 in order to attend the commemoration service and celebration of the liberation of Goose Green. On May 29, a number of those Islanders imprisoned in the Goose Green club by Argentine occupying forces in 1982, joined Para veterans and once again spent the entire night in the club, sharing memories and raising a glass to those who fought and made the PDFultimate sacrifi ce for their freedom. EditorPicture courtesy of MPC Photo Section

15 Feature The Petition at the Battle high ground, the other commanders Across the battlefi eld, the momentum Therefore, take heed how you courageously maintain the assault. was sustained. Everywhere each impugn our person, Grovelling up to look through the soldier, in concert, maintained How you awake our sleeping gorse hedged skyline, he snatched a their obedience to the overarching sword of war: glimpse of the Goose Green Settlement task, yet skilfully dissenting from We charge you in the name far out across the bland grassland, the original plan, shattered by the of God, take heed. stretching a bleak fi nger into the dark- chaos of combat. Even the very For never two such kingdoms blue Sound. Stark: boxed white and few radio orders he gave out after did contend red, peaceful in the pale afternoon the Commander was killed, did not Without so much fall of blood, light; beyond grasp but not beyond account for their sustained activity. whose guiltless drops reach. The bank suddenly throbbed He merely reinforced the original Are every one a woe, with the in-coming cannon fi re, the mission to capture the Settlement and a sore complaint damp compacted earth swallowing placed the burden on each leader to ‘Gainst him whose wrongs give the hammering impact. As he held the achieve it. Rather, it was each man’s edge unto the swords binoculars to his face a violent crack courage, élan, and collaborative will to That make such waste of bruising pain lashed his exposed action, despite the constant nagging in brief mortality. wrist, the shock wave knocking him uncertainty and the fatigue, and the William Shakespeare: ‘Henry V’ off balance, and he tumbled down into fear and the confusion that constantly he bitter abrasive Polar gale laced the peat. He slithered backwards with assaulted their unity of purpose. Twith snow surged violently over his radio operator towards the rusting Later, the violent aerial napalm the mountain ridge, thrashing the strands of barbed wire, writhing over assault on the troops encircling the stunted grass and stormed on down the vibrating spongy-wet peat. Then he Settlement was answered by the to tear at the bleak and desolate was caught, ensnared by the Settler’s devastating cluster bomb attack of the landscape below. This never-ending fence and pinned down by razor-killing Harrier aircraft around the perimeter turmoil blinded the sight, stunted the fi re. Wearily, he dropped his helmeted of Goose Green, which sucked the voice, and looted the meagre heat; a forehead into the soggy soil. There was clamour out of the battle, leaving a wild will-eroding wind, wintering the no respite; in command and barely in troubled mood of suspension and fl esh. Far out over the sea, a shaft of control; bound by the task, caught in muted apprehension: a breath-taking light pierced the overcast cloud and the network of promises to the valiant pause; perhaps an opportunity for tinted the grey water-waste blue; an Para brotherhood he was leading, and the enemy to counter attack. As azure fragment of cold-warmth. deafened by the clamour of combat. he stamped his cold feet, his boots He looked across towards Darwin Rolling his head round he saw his crunched through the piecrust of ice Hill. A paratrooper, bleeding from gallant Corporal, vainly attempting to into the spongy bog beneath. He the head and heavy on a makeshift elbow his own equipment free of the looked down at the soggy leather stretcher of corrugated iron, was steel wire. Under the jarring crackling streaked with white: they were being bundled down from the skyline, of the gunfi re and the capricious beginning to freeze. His back muscles his friends hunched with effort; mortar bombardment, their eyes ached from the old parachuting injury another suffering victim. Was this met in humble laughter and silent as he swung the combat pack onto man his fi rst casualty? Below, the mutual affection. In that moment, he the ground. He was glad he could still grey smoke swirled over the gully realised that they were about to die. feel the cold and have the wit to do where the confusion of command had This soldier; this colleague; this kind something about it. been resolved in tragedy and virtuous of friend would be his last and local The gorse gully had fi lled up with courage. The Commander had died, farewell. A surge of regret streamed dark shapes in the closing gloom but the intelligence of the subordinate through him, a dreadful sadness for around the remains of battalion commanders fl ourished, especially his ignorance of this man; knowing headquarters and the regimental aid the unrewarded Mountaineer. Over the superfi cial but not the profound. post that the brave medical offi cer the bay, another plume of white water In the fragments of still-time, he felt had brought healing to the horror. The blossomed up from the harassing a penetrating anguish that he would paratroopers were scattered down the artillery attack, the wind stealing the leave behind this warrior-companion slope huddled over their weapons; warning. Calling his commanders on as a familiar stranger, separated by their heads slumped forward in the radio, he made the few decisions class, status, and convention, yet exhaustion. Someone was crying in that would maintain the momentum of united in purpose, fused by affl iction his sleep. He stumbled down to the the assault; one commander holds the and entangled by wire. row of body bags and the Argentine

TM

PDFArgentine soldiers’ helmets Editor

16 Feature of Goose Green by a Christian soldier casualties laid out amid the debris the pencil, and torch; all that remained His sudden burst of clarity began of medical wrappings; the bloody of the battalion command post. He to fade as his mind wandered into detritus of war. Thankfully, most struggled to think. ‘Where are we; imagining what was happening of the battalion’s injured had been what we trying to do; where to now?’ across the battalion position; in the evacuated by the outrageous bravery The fuzzy imageries faded as he Settlement; back at San Carlos; in of the Army Air Corps pilots, brilliantly grappled with the paper. the Fleet; at home and his family; all fl ying the land from the sky. They had The obvious foreword to the combat beyond him, out there in the winter- ferried the logistics forward and taxied thinking process seemed impossibly dark. Time seemed to be suspended. It the casualties back with intuitive elusive. He then remembered the fi rst was as if the whole world appeared to understanding and affectionate trust. heading: Ground, but the mantra of the be waiting. Were they waiting for him? Sadly, the priorities of pity had left logic seemed meaningless. Ground? They were out there, millions of faces some of the injured Argentine enemy He repeated the word, clawing at the looking over his shoulder: watching, still lying among their exhausted planning liturgy that everyone had lingering, eagerly knowledgeable and enemy; the inequalities of combat. learnt by heart. expectant; waiting for his decision. The smouldering gorse stung his Suddenly he was awake and clear. Across the water and high up, he eyes. He felt so tired. The start of the Ground - he began to write: ‘bare- thought he heard the distant clatter of battle, forty hours earlier, seemed arsed corridor of land bounded by a helicopter; RAF not Army; looking such an age ago, yet time had passed water, with no bloody cover.’ ‘So what; for our casualties? His eyes closed; so swiftly. Now long-hours later, so there is little room for manoeuvre it was warm again. The dancing dusky forms were swimming inside either side’, he ventured mentally, shapes caught him up like a swing his head with strange prickly images ‘except forwards or backwards! His and spiralled him sluggishly, softly, to that muddled his mind: real and false mind moved to the second stage in the an inky down-there-world; safe and impressions and soft-hard warm thinking process. sound; quiet fi gures; recessional. His reassurances that were evaporated Enemy: ‘The Argentine garrison was thoughts seemed to smear across his by the sudden darts of fear-fi lled reinforced after the last-light Harrier understanding, like vapour trails of reality. His thoughts went back to the attack, are still on the defensive, and memory drawn on a dark sky-scape: Commander, his broken body lying- have a three to one superiority’. ‘What clear and fading. He felt he was being cold behind the Hill but his tenacious of their will to fi ght?’ He sensed some called; softly yet urgently. He struggled spirit on-fi re in the Battalion’s fi ghting- weakness. ‘We will not retreat and the upwards, pushing again against the day. The leadership virtue of courage, enemy has nowhere to run.’ His moral drowning falling texture of the descent. the dedication in action to what is right intuition cautioned restraint: ‘if their He awoke alone, cramped, aching and good had inspired his fi nal act and will was broken, we could not continue cold. His bruised right arm ached. A enhanced his nobility of character. In to use violence; had they not as much moment later came the sickening call both we could predict and so in both right to live as we?’ of the here-and-now truth. He rolled we could trust. In the perfect individual Mission: ‘What had changed? over and stood up, the wind pulling him virtue would be effortless, in one Nothing! 2 Para had not achieved the into the night. He looked down at noise less than perfect, virtue would be capture of the Argentine garrison at of the notebook’s pages spinning over, cherished; for valour! Goose Green!’ waking him to his half-remembered He looked down at the crippled ‘The resources that had been duty. His stomach stalled as the awful Argentine offi cer, who had waited inadequate at the start were now dread returned: he was in command! behind to be evacuated last, mouthing almost exhausted. One in nine of He knelt down, rocked forward and a prayer in his peaty deathbed; ‘Holy us are either killed or injured. We began to write the word ‘Ground’ in the Mary, Mother of God, pray for us have little belted-ammunition for the notebook again; forgetting his earlier sinners now and at the hour of our machine guns, no mortar rounds, the thinking that seemed to have been death’. The man’s warm life was Navy has withdrawn, radio batteries blown away into the Polar night. The slipping from his grasp in the darkening are depleted and the proximity of the letters spilled down the page, blurred steel-cold night; his last lonely dying Settlers prevents the use of artillery. and crazy. Thought-shapes reeled duty. The cold gripped him again. The Our assault is dispersed across and clouded with the letters. Slowly snow fl urry swept up the sparks of the the approaches to the Settlement; his helmeted head pitched forward burning gorse, spinning the polluted cohesion has been fractured, and into the warm ash, mixing the wood- wood-smoke into his mind’s fantasies. the polar wind has reduced the smoke with his smudged words; the He sat down coughing; rolling back temperature to minus ten degrees black-roots and the fl ickering torch- into the blackening burnt earth to wind-chill’. images; fantasy fl oating with form. lie still; alone; to think. ‘Was he ‘We are on our own’. ‘It will be, Continued overleaf losing his grip?’ ‘What was real?’ He as ever, a matter of will’, he mused. TM mechanically pulled out his notebook, ‘Utrinque Paratus’!

PDFThe Goose Green community Editorhall

17 Feature

Continued from previous page Provided your will is fulfi lled in from a grotesque military occupation, He tried to write it again. ‘Ground?’ me and in all creatures, I ask for but it also brought the collapse of the He looked at the word in puzzlement; nothing more, My Father. repressive undemocratic Argentine another far-off part of him asked why As he concluded the prayer, the military junta, under whose jurisdiction he was writing, what for and for why? battlefi eld of despair fell away. eleven thousand men, women and With more determination, he wrote Turbulence was replaced by children had their lives destroyed; the word again as if its repetition would tranquillity, strain by serenity, and tortured; thrown from aircraft; buried reveal its meaning. The oozy warmth distress by determination. In place alive; to become the ‘disappeared’. returned, swelled, and embraced him of the confusion, indecision and The awful fi ghting was as much as his helmet-head sank deeper into uncertainty arrived clarity; absolute about relieving the grief of the wailing the charcoal gorse. clarity. He knew exactly, with blinding widows outside the Casa Rosada, When he awoke, he was shivering. certainty, in perfect trust and absolute as liberating the traumatised Settlers He felt anxious. He started to shake. conviction, what action needed to inside Goose Green. He struggled to his feet and walked be taken; an outrageous idea: full of Gerard Manley Hopkins stiffl y up the re-entrant to where he authority, justice and peace! He felt celebrates the warrior’s purity of remembered he had left the company warm, joyful, renewed. Inspired by action. commander. He met him in the the Holy Spirit, Hope fl ourished, and YES. Why do we áll, seeing of a darkness. The man had the hooded he felt the burden of command was soldier, bless him? anxiety of an exhausted prey; hunted now light. In place of the inability to Bless Our redcoats, our tars? down. He was buried backwards into manoeuvre came an outrageous idea. Both these being, the greater the gorse, hunched and dirty-faced. He would demand the surrender of the part, but frail clay, nay but foul The offi cer looked strained and tired Argentine garrison at the Settlement clay. as he whispered, “what the hell are of Goose Green and the release of Here it is: the heart, since proud, we going to do now?” Other dark the captive Settlers. He stumbled it calls the calling manly, gives fi gures strained forward eager to hear urgently back up the gulley, framing a guess that, hopes that, makes the response. Turning he slumped the contours of the plan in his head believe, the men must be no less; back into the bush beside him and as he went, full of understanding, It fancies, feigns, deems, dears looked vacantly at the offi cer’s familiar excitement, and commitment. the artist after his art. pleading face. ‘He wants answers After the Surrender, he replaced his We place a very heavy moral from me and I have none’, he thought. steel helmet with his maroon beret obligation on the ‘frail’ and gallant A spasm of fear jerked through his legs and walked down into the Settlement. warrior, ordered to do what is right and as he realised he had run out of ideas The Islanders were spilling out of the good through the proportional use of and had not the bravery to mouth his Community hall, laughing and crying violence, with its profound absence of vacuous dreadful thoughts. He felt with relief. Two little girls stepped out love, in a milieu that is wrong and bad the gripping vice of the psychological of the crowd of Settlers and shyly by our principles of justice. Only the contract thrown up between follower walked towards him, hand in hand; legitimate pursuit of peace can redeem and leader by the pathology of the sisters ushered forward by their father. the loveless outrage of the battlefi eld, crisis. He had to carry their anxieties The elder girl held up a miniature absolve the Nation of any ethical guilt, and add them to his overwhelming glass tankard containing a Falkland and preserve the warrior’s nobility of sense of moral responsibility for his Islands’ pound note, some coins, and moral purpose for a just cause. mens’ lives and those of the enemy a coil of paper. He knelt down, hoping The values of liberty and freedom in in this wicked activity; he experienced his battle-fi lthy clothes and streaked- the cause of a just peace is our British the deep loneliness of command. black face would not frighten the two democratic legacy, which commands He struggled to his feet, turned away children. They smiled at him as if he the defence of the Falkland Islander’s from the thicket of fi gures, and walked was a dear family uncle, as he un- claim to their homeland, for which down the gully to be alone again; wrapped the coil of paper and read the the enduring sacrifi ce is the warriors’ depression added to his exhaustion short message: suffering and the families’ sorrow. and fear. He thrust his gloved hands To the Commanding Offi cer. ©cpbk 2012 into the deep smock pockets seeking In appreciation for our Freedom. some warmth for his painful hands. The elder girl boldly looked him in the His fi ngertips caught the edge of eyes and pressed him to receive their the buried plastic card. It was then monetary gift, despite his resistance, he remembered the Prayer. He had adding a wise and powerful piece of laminated the short “invocation of reasoning, written on her young heart; abandonment” of Charles de Foucauld ‘our freedom is so precious, it is worth some years before and had carried it all our pocket money’. Looking up at ever since. It is an awesome prayer; a the joyful Settlers he said: ‘my men prayer that needed a health warning; have been to hell and back and to hell a prayer that called for God’s Will to and back again, but seeing the smiles be done without reserve, with humility, on your faces we would do it again; for in resignation. He knew the words all of you’. TM by heart. He knelt down alone in the *** crowded burning gully, his acquiescent The Falklands confl ict in 1982 soul shivering in apprehension; was not just about who owned what uncertain yet sure; in his gethsemane rock in the South Atlantic. It is about moment. He contemplated the words liberty – the pursuit of the citizens’ of the petition: legitimate interests through their own My Father, self-determination. More importantly, I abandon myself to you. it is about freedom – each person’s Do with me as you will. capacity to make a moral choice for Whatever you may do with me I the Good; their own good; the others’ thank you. good; the Common Good - without fear, PDFI am ready for anything. Editorduress, or coercion. Thus, the struggle I accept everything. not only freed the Falkland Islanders

18 Oil Premier invest $billion in Rockhopper Exploration ockhopper Exploration plc has September after customary closing Rentered into a billion dollar conditions, including the approval of conditional farm-out agreement with the Falkland Islands Government. Premier Oil plc which will acquire 60 Rockhopper plc has stated that their per cent of Rockhopper’s interests in Board believes the transaction with its North Falkland Basin licences. Premier delivers on its key objectives The deal provides that Premier which include full funding for become the operator of the Sea Lion Rockhopper’s share of the Sea Lion development, while Rockhopper well through the development carry will take the sub-surface lead on and standby fi nancing arrangement exploration activities. provided by Premier along with the A report from Premier Oil plc option to secure third party fi nancing confi rms that it will: in place of the standby fi nancing Chevening award Pay an initial cash sum of $231 arrangement, should the company am Cockwell has made million recognising past costs incurred chose to. SFalklands history as the by Rockhopper Rockhopper also gains an aligned fi rst Islander to be awarded the Fund up to $48 million of and experienced partner and operator prestigious Chevening Scholarship. Rockhopper’s share of three in Premier with signifi cant experience Sam (27) achieved an exploration wells in analogous operating environments Environmental Science Bachelor’s Fund up to $722 million of and developments utilising FPSOs, degree from the University of Rockhopper’s development while the company retains signifi cant Manchester and currently works as expenditures, subject to approval of exposure to the upside in the North Projects Offi cer at the Department the fi eld development plan. Falkland Basin through its residual 40 of Mineral Resouces. The In addition, Premier will make per cent interest. scholarship will fund his masters in available a standby fi nancing facility. Premier has dismissed political Petroleum Engineering at Imperial If Rockhopper chooses to draw down concerns in relation to threats from College in London. His application on that facility, Premier will take the Argentine government to sue was submitted and supported by an enhanced share of entitlement the British companies they claim Government House. production and cash fl ows from the are “operating illegally” in Falklands Sam said he was honoured to Sea Lion and related fi elds. waters: “I don’t want to sound fl ippant, be the fi rst Islander to achieve the The enhanced share will continue but the oil industry deals with this type scholarship, adding that he was until Premier has realised a 15 per of political risk, of border disputes, really looking forward to going back cent post tax internal rate of return of disputed territories all around the to university before embarking on a (IRR) on its investment. Beyond that world, frankly,” Premier’s Finance new career. cash fl ows will be shared pro-rata to Director Tony Durrant said. “Fundamental to my application equity interests. Oil is expected to start pumping in was very strong support from Phyl The proposed acquisition is the Falklands in mid-2017, said the Rendell (former director of Mineral expected to be completed in partners. Resources) and Stephen Luxton the current director of my department, LOCAL OUTLOOK: “Given the value established with Rockhopper Exploration as well as the overall support of and Premier Consolidated, the bench mark for barrels of Falklands crude in friends, family and colleagues. the ground seems to have been set at a very low level when compared with “I hope the Masters will put me in other markets, despite the generous Falkland Islands royalty terms on offer. a strong position given the potential Perhaps with another discovery and the increased confi dence this would for growth of the oil industry in the bring, the in-the-ground price might improve on future discoveries.” Falkland Islands.” When asked the secret behind his successful application, he said: “I Stebbing plugged and abandoned think you’d have to ask Government ollowing on from the Borders had only an estimate of recoverable House that, but I have been lucky F& Southern Petroleum plc an- reserves. This is thought to be some- here with plenty of opportunities nouncement that their latest well where between 300 million and 760 to exert myself professionally and project Stebbing had been plugged million barrels. personally; but as with all things I and abandoned, Chief Executive Of- He said near a market this would be suppose I was in the right place at fi cer of the company Howard Obee, highly valuable but, “as we are here it the right time.” gave a presentation to the public on is more of a challenge,” adding, how- Sam who is a memberTM of the the reasons for abandoning Stebbing, ever, it was possible Darwin could be Falkland Islands Defence Force, and the potential for the Darwin well, a ‘stand alone’ prospect or other wells the Fire and Rescue Service, a where gas condensate was discov- nearby might be tied in with it. keen hockey player and surfer said ered in April. Close to Darwin exist a number of his course will begin at the end of Fluid analysis results from Darwin other prospects which appear to have September. well (100 miles south east of the Falk- similar geology, including those now After completing the Masters lands) are expected near the end of named ‘Covington’ and ‘Chaffers’. Degree he anticipates joining the August when the company will be able Two other areas now named ‘Bute’ Falkland Islands private sector to characterise the reservoir fl uids and ‘Burgess’, he said were, “higher and hopes to return to the Mineral and, “any nasties,” that might impact risk but very large.” Gas condensate, Resources Department in the longer on the programme, said Mr Obee. is a valuable raw material for the pro- term. “My passion is the Falklands He said the gas condensate should duction of motor fuels as well as for and that’s where I intend to settle in PDF Editorthe not too distant future,” he said. be simple to produce but as yet they chemical processes. 19 Falkland Islands Association news

lthough numbers were low, our The £5 subscription for Associate Amembers visit in April to the From the Members (students and seniors) Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew to has not changed since 1982 and the see their work with Falkland Islands Secretary’s Desk normal subscription of £15 has been plants was a great success despite By Colin Wright unchanged since 1989. Without the the rain. After an introduction to their generous support of the Falkland work in the Overseas Territories we Rear Admiral Nick Lambert, Naval Islands Government we would not be visited the nurseries where we saw Hydrographer, will lay a wreath on able to publish the Newsletter in this plants growing from seed that had behalf of the Armed Services. He format. A review of the subscription been collected in the Islands – it was commanded the ice patrol ship, HMS rates is under way. a surprise to see Tussac barely a Endurance from 2005 – 2007. This year I still have plenty of copies of Diddle foot tall and a Balsam Bog only just we will return to the Gascoine Room Dee to Wire Gates and they are only big enough to cover a 50p piece. I at the Union Jack Club in Waterloo available from the FIA in the UK (£10 was especially pleased to be able to for the AGM and refreshments after plus £2.50 p&p). We have sent our meet Rebecca Upson of Falklands the ceremony. Notice of the AGM and fi rst payment £400 to the Jane & Conservation and Cynthia Williams, a booking form is enclosed with this Alastair Cameron Memorial Trust who of Stanley Nurseries who has been Newsletter. receive all income from the sales of involved in the Native Plants Nursery A review of unpaid subscriptions this delightful book (see April 2012 since early 2009 and had been took place this summer and letters Newsletter for details). The new lapel working at Kew for a period of four were sent to 78 members from badge has sold quite well at £1.50 weeks thanks to the Shackleton whom no subscriptions had been each plus 50p p&p and a new FIA Scholarship Fund. received in 2011. At the time of Tie is now available at £9.00 plus £2 The Falkland Islands Government writing 26 responses have resulted p&p (UK). All these are available from Reception at Lincoln’s Inn was well in 16 renewed subscriptions, one me at 6 St Anne’s Road, Shrewsbury attended this year. The special resignation and, sadly, 6 notifi cations SY3 6AU with cheques payable to the guest was the Prime Minister, David that the member had died. Three Falkland Islands Association. Cameron, who made a well received letters were returned ‘Gone Away’ speech in support of the Islanders. and these will be removed from the The additional security delayed the mailing list along with all those for New reception of the large number of which we received no reply. FIA tie members and guests. Unfortunately with the big increase now Planning for Battle Day is well in postal charges, especially to under way and the ceremony will take overseas addresses the lower available place at The Cenotaph at 11.00am membership rates barely cover the See above on Saturday 8th December when costs of the Newsletter and postage. for details FFalklandalkland IslandsIslands GGovernmentovernment LLincolnincoln InnInn rreceptioneception

Prime Minister David Cameron with Government Liam Fox MP with former Falklands Governor David Representative Sukey Cameron and former Falklands Tatham and Mrs Tatham Governor Alan Huckle (FIA Chairman)

TM

James Wallace and FIA Secretary Colin Wright Pictures P Pepper PDFSee page 3 for the Prime Minister’s Editor address in full Former Falklands Governors William Fullerton with Sir Cosmo and Lady Haskard 20 Fishing Researching to reduce by-catch alkland Islands Fisheries FICZ after winter spawning, and is FDepartment (FIFD) ensures targeted by the fi nfi sh fl eet. conservation of fi sh stocks while For Loligo fi sheries, a research promoting fi shery profi tability and survey was recently performed reducing the amount of unwanted onboard the trawler Igueldo to by-catch in fi sheries, especially those investigate potential differences in the of juvenile rock cod, is a primary amount of small rock cod by-catch conservation goal. using two different confi gurations of Rock cod is a relatively small fi sh the trawl fi shing gear: the standard (30-35 cm length) and in the last fi ve Spanish trawl rigging and a modifi ed, years has become a major resource experimental trawl rigging. Preliminary in Falkland waters with annual results indicated that catches of rock catches between 60 and 77 thousand Scientists measure rock cod cod by the two types of rigging were tonnes – of which an estimated 10- 2012. In addition to the 90 mm mesh not statistically different. Further 15 thousand tonnes are discarded at codend currently used under fi nfi sh, work is required to reduce rock cod sea as undersized by-catch with little combined squid/fi nfi sh and skate by-catch in the Loligo fi shery, which chance of survival. Such discarding licences, three larger mesh sizes were currently does not have mesh size of undersized rock cod negatively tested: 110 mm, 120 mm and 140 mm. restrictions. impacts the population as removal Preliminary results indicated that the This research survey was of fi sh prior to their reproductive age use of larger cod end mesh sizes (≥ concurrent to the Loligo biomass compromises the potential for stock 120 mm) retain more commercial-size survey that was carried out by the renewal. rock cod whilst effectively reducing trawler Beagle F.I. before the start of In order to address this important numbers of undersized juvenile fi sh in the second season in July to estimate problem, FIFD scientists are currently the catch. the biomass available to the fi shery. investigating whether changes in There was only limited impact of The ‘Loligo Box’ was covered by a fi shing gear used in the fi nfi sh and larger mesh sizes on fi shery effi ciency series of transects with three trawls Loligo fl eets can reduce by-catch. For for Illex squid. Therefore, increasing performed in shallow, intermediate fi nfi sh fi sheries, a series of research codend mesh sizes in commercial and deep waters on each transect. cruises has been undertaken to trawl fi sheries may maximize fi shery Trawls were analysed for total catch evaluate how different mesh sizes in effi ciency and minimise discards of weight, size and maturity ranges of trawl codends can reduce bycatch small fi sh and skates. A third research Loligo and rock cod. Statistical models while sustaining fi shery effi ciency for cruise is scheduled for October 2012 were then used to estimate the total commercial-size rock cod and other to investigate mesh sizes during one Loligo biomass in the fi shing area. species including hake, kingclip, of the most important harvesting The results of the survey indicated skates and Illex squid. periods for rock cod and other fi nfi sh an average level of biomass with the The fi rst research cruise was species: austral spring. At this time of highest concentrations of squid in conducted in November 2011 and a year, rock cod concentrates in warmer deep waters of the southern part of second one took place in early May waters of the north-western part of the Loligo Box. Dr A Arkhipkin Spreading the word New Fishery department n May, Falkland Islands fi shery Iscience was represented by Drs offi ces opened by Minister Alexander Arkhipkin and Andreas Winter at the 6th World Fisheries he new Fisheries Department but desired prize, but in the mean Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland. Tbuilding adjacent to the Agriculture time the fact that the industry here This year’s Congress brought Department was offi cially opened by is well organised, well regulated and together 1000 delegates from 65 the Minister of State for the Foreign marshalled and is creating prosperity countries. Dr Arkhipkin presented and Commonwealth Offi ce Jeremy for the Islands as a whole and for a talk entitled “Close Cooperation Browne on June 12. specifi c people on the Islands, is Between Science, Management Mr Browne unveiled a plaque and something we are very welcoming and Industry Benefi ts Exploitation gave a short speech in front of the of and supportive of, and we wish to of the Variable Falkland Islands Director of Natural Resources John continue that support.” Squid Fishery,” where he pointed out Barton and industry representatives Mr Barton said Her Majesty’s that short chains of communication including local fi shing companies and Government and the British Foreign between science, management and vessel captains. Offi ce had provided a great deal of industry in the FalklandTM Islands allow Mr Browne who was predominantly support to the fi shery over the years, effective cooperation in the interest in the Islands for the 30th anniversary “certainly at the outset when it all of long-term sustainable exploitation of the Falklands War, said celebrating started in 1986/87, during some of the in the Loligo fi shery. In the important anniversaries was important but diffi cult decisions such as the arming fi shery for I.argentinus, a further the big prize was, “a viable strong of fi shing protection vessels and level of cooperative management is economic future for the people of the during 15 years of the SAFC.” (South needed as this squid is a straddling Islands.” Atlantic Fisheries Commission). stock between several countries and He added: “What we would The department head joked, “I the high seas. Dr Winter presented a like, although we are not quite at suspect there are many diplomats talk entitled “Predicting Recruitment that stage, is to have some wider out there who little thought they Pulses of Patagonian Squid in the agreement with our neighbours about would be dealing with the intricacies Falkland Islands Fisheries” that the management of stock,” adding of the spawning stock biomass of the outlined recent studies on environment PDFthat this was a, “somewhat elusive Editorsouthern blue whiting.” predictors of Loligo abundance.

21 News- social

elebrity chef Phil Vickery Cdescribed Falklands lamb as fantastic during his visit in May as an Fantastic Falklands says ambassador for Red Lion Foods. Phil’s easy going manner was a big hit with Islanders who he in celeb chef Phil Vickery turn described as, “warm, kind and generous.” Being a keen fi sherman, Phil said he would like to come back to do some fi shing. “We had dinner at Sheila Stewart’s house last night and she had a 12lb trout; you’d never eat that in England, you’d frame it and put it on your wall,” he enthused. Apart from checking out the North camp and fi lming with Matt at Malvina, Phil has seen penguins, cooked breakfast at Liberty Lodge, posed for hundreds of photos with star struck Stanley residents and ended his visit with a cooking demonstration for chefs and military wives at Mount Pleasant Airport. Accompanying Phil was Red Lion Foods managing director Andrew Gidden on his second visit to the Islands. He said he was “blown Celebrity chef Phil Vickery with Malvina House Hotel chef Matt Clarke away” by the people on his previous visit and also by the quality of the was to get Falklands produce on sale constructed home from home for meat and seafood. in British supermarkets. 1982 veterans returning to the His initial plan was to get some His primary aim however is to Falklands to visit. footage of Phil cooking local contribute to military charities and The next step said Andrew is to produce in the Islands on ITV’s Red Lion Foods have pledged obtain sampes of seafood from Vigo This Morning programme during £30,000 a year for the running in Spain and get it out to supermarket Liberation week, but the bigger plan costs of Liberty Lodge, the specially buyers.

ocal artist Griz Cockwell has held her Lfi rst exibition in Stanley with 68 paint- ings, pastels and drawings encompass- ing a wide and eclectic variety of subjects including landscapes, portraits of children, musicians and horsemen, dogs and still lifes. If the subjects for Griz’s work were vari- ous so were the techniques displayed in what amounted to an exhibition of a life time of evolution as an artist in various parts of the world, including France and Greece as well as the Falklands. With prices ranging from £650 for the larger oils to around £100 for the smaller drawings, all including mounting and fram- ing, there was plenty to tempt local collec- tors. Attracting particular attention, aside from Griz’s characterful portraits in pastels of the various moods of her grandsons, were vibrant oils of old sheds andTM Nissen huts. These not only showed a marvellous com- mand of the medium, but in presenting everyday objects to the observer in a way which makes us more aware of their visual qualities, served what is perhaps one of the prime purposes of all good fi gurative art or photography. Griz also auctioned a pastel image of a small fl ock of sheep (pictured as back- ground) in order to raise funds for SAMA (82). It eventually sold for £160. Check out Griz’s work on PDF Editorwww.driftwood-studio.net

22 News- social Glitz and glamour for young Islanders

Happy Birthday FITV he fi rst anniversary of FITV, the TFalkland Islands’ fi rst locally produced television service, was celebrated on April 6 at a reception held at the Chamber of Commerce. The large invited gathering, in- cluded HE The Governor, Mr Ni- gel Haywood, several Members of the Legislative Assembly, guest presenters, Media Trust members, advertisers and many others who have been connected with FITV since it began. FITV is a joint venture partner- ship between KTV Ltd, who pro- vide technical support and Stanley Services Ltd, who provide the pro- duction team, none of whom had May Queen Bronwen Ford and Prince Charming Gareth McGhie with had any previous television experi- runners up Meghan Law and Declan Bonner ence. For this reason, Station Man- ager Steve Fowmes said that it had been something of, “a roller coaster year,” and paid tribute to the work carried out by Paula Fowmes, Liz Roberts and Mark Spruce.

n attractive publication illustrat- Aing Falklands’ ancestry, and dedicated to British forces who liberated the Falkland Islands from FCO Minister Jeremy Browne with Argentine occupation, has been Winter Ball winners Chelsea Liberation Ball winners Meghan created for the Falklands’ 30th An- Middleton and Jack Ford Law and Kalon Jaffray niversary Year. Produced by JennyTM Cockwell for the Falkland Islands Government and designed by Julie Bellhouse, it includes the story of Lee Molken- buhr and his late father Claude, Dr Rebecca Edwards and her mother Norma, Paul Phillips and his father Terence and a number of other young Islanders along with a par- ent. The publication includes many colourful images of Islands people at work and play. The booklet is intended for distribution to 30th an- PDF Editorniversary visitors. Stepping out in time and Liberation Ball fi nalists Pictures Penguin News

23 Advertising

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24 Agriculture MLA Mike Summers Prime meat to market looks at agriculture espite logistical issues in the early e are all well aware that from the Dpart of the season the Falkland Wtime our ancestors fi rst began to Islands Meat Company, (FIMCo) arrive in the Falklands in the early 1800s completed a record breaking export until the declaration of the fi shing zone season on April 27, with 47,200 sheep in the mid 1980’s, farming was the sole and lambs processed and over 540 export industry for the Falkland Islands. tonnes of meat and offal produced, For over 150 years farming sustained the Falkland Islands economy and provided General Manager John Ferguson the social structure for the Islands. The said the company had suffered from advent of fi shing and poor prices for wool delayed payments in the early stages throughout the 90s and the early 2000s of the season, but all was soon has had far reaching effects on the Islands back on track with payments fl owing farming industry, - but not all negative. through to the farms supplying the “It prompted new thinking on agriculture, animals. which led amongst other things to the Farmers also had a record year with importation of the National Stud Flock, just over a million pounds paid to the extensive work on rotational grazing and fencing programmes, extensive trials and 60 farmers supplying the abattoir. commercial application of new crops, the Stanley businesses and suppliers planning, construction and development were also signifi cant benefi ciaries of the abattoir, experimentation with making £521,000 and a further Prime Falklands lamb in the chiller and commercial adoption of new sheep £474,000 was paid to staff (full time at Sand Bay Abattoir and cattle genetics, and the promotion and seasonal) as well as £284,000 and adoption by farms of new business to Government for services (water, alone, and there was the potential for planning models. electricity etc). new markets in the near future. “These have all been critical to the The completion of the major The demand from the oil industry modernisation and improvement of Falklands farming, and it is exciting to see upgrade to the processing plant had looked set to increase, there was the some of the very much improved rates made all the difference to productivity potential to explore other products to of return to farmers from the available and effi ciency, as planned, said Mr Mount Pleasant, the cruise industry inputs. The most important contribution to Ferguson with productivity increased had yet to be explored and in addition profi tability in recent years has been the by more than 40 per cent per day on there was now an export market for much improved wool prices, due to long average, rising from approximately beef, he said, adding that the risk of term restructure in world production and 550 animals in 2011 to 750-800 plus over producing had defi nitely been improved product from the Falklands, and per day in 2012. eliminated. higher prices for meat. It is important that Falklands farmers continue to rise Over the last decade Falklands both farmers and the Government seize this opportunity to ensure that investment to the challenge of providing a quality farming has undergone a lot of in farms and farm infrastructure is product to the Meat Company with changes from the set stocking, encouraged and maintained for future 29,939 lambs supplied by 39 farms in ranching style traditionally practised to productivity, during these better times - the last year. In 2003 just 2,953 lambs raise sheep for wool to a more intense they will inevitably come and go, though were produced by six farms. system of pasture improvement and the Falklands farming industry is now Meanwhile the demands of the stock management which results in much stronger condition to resist local markets are increasing with the in well fi nished animals making the temporary fl uctuations. Naafi at the Mount Pleasant military grade for the abattoir. “There remains much to do. The recent base using Falklands beef for all their With several years of good wool visit of Uruguayan farmers provided a number of new insights into potential burgers and the current hydrocarbons prices behind them and new markets for increased productivity, and a return exploration rig Lief Erikssen regularly on the horizon, the future looks bright visit in September will enable farmers to placing large orders for beef. for the Falklands farmers. Those view the results of alternative investment As the farmers gathered in Stanley farmers who have ridden out more strategies there. As the meat industry in early July for their annual meetings than a decade of poor wool prices, strengthens opportunities exist for farms to and brain-storming sessions, Mr with support from the Falkland Islands take directions that best suit their land and Ferguson informed them that up to Government, have moved on to their skills. Further improvement in wool 100 more cattle were needed per embrace the business opportunities micron and survival rates for sheep will year to meet the current local demand now available. Sharon Jaffray produce improved economic return, and supply of animals from the West for the abattoir has great potential. Opportunities for horticulture strengthen, and the growth of the fi shing industry and the advent of a hydrocarbons industry bring new opportunities to farmersTM to provide local supplies. “A key to further success will lie in our ability to provide labour, transport facilities and infrastructure to support continuing development. The average age of farmers in the Islands had dropped substantially as new generations take on the old sub- divisions, and there are exciting times ahead for traditional farming methods and for new thinkers alike. It will take a continued partnership approach between public and private sectors to ensure that agriculture remains as relevant and Beef grazing at Bold Cove, West Falkland Pictures F I Meat Company productive to the Falklands today as it has PDF Editordone for the last 170 years.”

25 News - social alklands residents got into the Fswing of the lead up to the Olym- pics when one of 8,000 Olympic torch British Olympic spirit bearers, Commonwealth Games badminton gold medallist Rebecca Pantaney (36) carried a torch to the Islands. Rebecca, who has given training to the Falklands badminton team annu- ally since 2007, in preparation for both the Island Games and the Common- wealth Games, said, “people love it, it really brings home that the Olympics will start soon.” The England Under 19 age group coach said she has a busy schedule while in the Islands, not just as a re- sult of her torch carrying duties: “I’m coaching while I’m here, both younger players and the small squad heading to Brazil.” Rebecca will join three other mem- bers of the Stanley badminton club team in Sao Paulo at the end of Sep- tember when she will play doubles Olympic torch carrier Rebecca Pantaney with King penguin chicks at with Islander Mike Brownlee at the Volunteer Point Picture Derek Pettersson event which is part of the International Badminton Federation circuit. Other Resourceful Camp Education team members comprise Doug Clark teachers and children pulled and Laura Minto: “it will be a great ex- off something of a coup with perience for them all,” she said. their carefully constructed paper Rebecca, who began playing bad- Olympic torches when one was minton when she was ten years old, delivered to the Liev Erikssen offi cially retired in 2003 and immedi- oil rig and taken on a tour of ately took up coaching. She is cur- the facilities. Completing its rently one of only two Level 3 coaches Falklands tour courtesy of the in the UK and the only female. Falkland Islands Government Air Service the torch was also welcomed by North Camp Cadet challenge residents and the school at Mount Pleasant. omping in the footsteps of 45 YCommando Royal Marines in 1982, fi ve Falklands cadets marched the tortuous route from Port San Crossing paths with history Carlos to Stanley as part of the youth organisation’s annual cadet challenge in June. Harrison and Megan Law, William Tench, Christopher Stenning and Ashley Reeves began the walk on a Thursday morning having bivouacked overnight at the start point. Supported by Royal Marine Trevor Law (FIDF) and his wife Claire, Simon Isaacs, Frank O’Sullivan, Ruth Kemp and cadet leader Ken Newton the entire march comprised four days and 25.5 hours walking time; the fastest time the cadets have ever s part of ‘Falklands 30’, Year 9, from the Falkland Islands Community completed the route. ASchool took a climb up Mount Longdon to learn aboutTM historic events sur- Overnight stops included New rounding the area in 1982. House, Teal Inlet and Estancia Farm. Student Tamsin McLeod said a wreath was carefully carried as in two groups Ken said: “We had great support they followed two different paths dotted with evidence of the battle. She said as always from the Falkland Islands one of the students was heard to comment: “Our footsteps are crossing over Defence Force with vehicles and the footsteps of the people that fought here. We are literally crossing paths equipment. Also we’d like to thank with our own history.” the farmers for allowing us to cross Tamsin added, “The wreath was placed at the summit to sit alongside their land as well as to British names and photos of those fallen below the cross as the wind blew in our International for treating the group to faces. We remembered the twenty-three that were killed there, and the oth- a helicopter ride. ers that fought and survived this battle on both sides.” The fi rst Cadet Challenge took “Many thanks to FICS members of staff and FIDF who came out with us place in 2006 and this year funds and braved the wind for an historic lesson which we will always remember; PDFwere raised for both SAMA (82) and Editormany thanks and much appreciation from us all.” the Sea Cadets. 26 Conservation Black-browed Albatross numbers soar he conservation status of the TBlack-browed Albatross could be downlisted from ‘endangered’ based on ground and aerial surveys carried out in 2010. Falklands Conservation’s Chief Executive Offi cer James Fenton said: “All recent surveys indicate the Falkland Islands population of the Black-browed Albatross is increasing, which indicates the species is no longer endangered. As we host the largest populations in the world this is in 2010, five especially good news. The signifi cant years after the previous reduction in the number of birds caught census. as a bycatch of the fi shing industry in Different methods, recent years illustrates how wildlife principally aerial and conservation benefi ts from everyone ground-based had been working together.” used independently to An application will be made to the census the population in International Union for Conservation the Falklands. Previously of Nature (IUCN) to downlist the these census initiatives outh Georgia has the second Black-browed Albatross globally. had reported contrasting Slargest population of the Black- An assessment of the population population trends. The aerial based browed albatross in the world next trends and conservation status of surveys indicated an increase in the to the Falkland Islands. the Black-browed Albatross in the population between 1986 and 2005 The South Georgia Newsletter Falkland Islands, led by ACAP* and the ground based surveys a reports that by-catch of Black- Coordinator Anton Wolfaardt, has decline between 2000 and 2005, browed Albatrosses in the South backed up reports based on aerial and using historical data an inferred Georgia fi sheries has through surveys by Ian and Georgina Strange decline between 1995 and 2005. the effective implementation of a carried out in 2011, that the population However, the aerial and ground- range of mitigation measures been was on the increase. based surveys conducted in 2010 successfully reduced to negligible The Black-browed Albatross has both revealed an increase in the numbers. been classifi ed as endangered since Black-browed Albatross population It says given the wide ranging 2003 in the IUCN Red List. of at least four per cent per annum nature of the species, and the lack The endangered threat status, between 2005 and 2010. of evidence for threats at their which indicated that the species faced Current estimates for the annual breeding sites, the ongoing decline a high risk of extinction in the wild, was breeding population in the Falkland in the numbers of Black-browed al- applicable to the global population. Islands range between 475, 500 and batross breeding at South Georgia With approximately two thirds of the 535,000 breeding pairs. is likely due, at least in part, to the global population breeding in the The exact reasons for the increase impacts of external fi sheries, those Falklands, the status of that population are not entirely clear, but efforts operating on the high seas and in has signifi cant bearing on the global to reduce seabird bycatch and the jurisidictional waters of other conservation status of the species. favourable feeding conditions are countries. 70 per cent of the birds in the Islands likely to have contributed, said Mr Dr Cleo Small, a coordinator breed on Steeple Jason Is. Wolfaardt. of BirdLife International’s Global Mr Wolfaardt plans to submit the He added: “Efforts should also Seabird Programme at the RSPB, fi ndings to relevant periodicals once continue to further improve seabird said: “When 17 out of the world’s further work has been carried out bycatch mitigation, both to buffer 22 species of albatross are listed on the data. Some estimates may the local population against possible as threatened with extinction, it is change slightly, but not signifi cantly, future changes, and to improve hugely encouraging that Black- he said.. the conservation status of other browed albatross colonies in the Environmentalist Sally Poncet populations and species.” Falkland Islands are now known to agreed the fi ndings were indeed a Trawlers pose the biggest risk to be increasing.” TM good news story for the Falklands, but the Black-browed Albatross although He said there was still some way added that numbers were still on the the introduction of tori lines in 2004 to go but the Falklands result gave decrease in South Georgia. bought an estimated 90 per cent great hope for turning around the Mr Wolfaardt, said the most recent reduction in fatalities. While long fortunes of other albatross species. archipelago-wide surveys of the lining claims fewer birds this has also “By-catch in fi sheries is the main Black-browed Albatross breeding in been further reduced with improved threat, and efforts are underway the Falkland Islands were conducted mitigation measures. in many longline and trawl fl eets worldwide to reduce the number *ACAP - Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels - is a of albatross killed. If we can keep multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve albatross and petrels this up, there is real hope that the by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their Black-browed albatross will set a populations. ACAP currently has 13 member countries and covers 30 trend for the future.” PDFspecies of albatross, petrels and shearwaters.Editor

27 Sport High hopes for young golfers tanley Golf Club has gone from achievement by both golfers. Sstrength to strength in the last Club membership has been couple of years and adding to the steadily increasing and generous excitement is the rapid improvement local sponsorship means there are of two 15 year old golfers who are competitions nearly every Sunday now playing in adult competition off from October until April, something the men’s tees. many UK clubs would be envious From the beginning Ieaun Ford and of. Improvements to the course Declan Bonner (pictured) showed by a dedicated voluntary team a lot of potential. For two seasons has doubtless helped the overall in the junior league they shared the development in golf and this was prizes with the others barely getting highlighted by the strong performance a look in. With this in mind it was of the team at last years Nat West decided to move them up to the Island Games. adult competitions mid way through This season is again an Island the 2010/11 season. Instantly they Services Monthly Medal and the Argos Games qualifying season and will showed their potential by featuring Challenge in December. Ieaun also give both Declan and Ieaun a chance in the prizes and shooting scores in started the season well with a third to test themselves against the best the 70s. Declan even managed to place in the White Rock tournament Stanley Golf Club has to offer over equal the course record at the time for before winning Captain’s Day in the six qualifying events and there are the forward tees. After showing they January. Arguably the best feat of the expectations they will fi nish among were clearly good enough to compete season was Declan’s performance in the top qualifi ers. with the adults, it was decided to let the Stanley open. At the end of play Considering neither have had much them play in the adult competitions off Declan was one of only two players professional coaching (around two the men’s tees from the start of the who managed to shoot scores in the hours total each), it is hoped they may 2011/12 season. 70s on both days, the other being the go on to college in the UK and have Both youngsters put in three cards winner Glenn Ross. Declan fi nished access to regular coaching to help for handicap and started the season 5th overall in his fi rst Stanley Open them develop and advance. They are on 16. Declan was the fi rst to make (the open is played off scratch with no sure to be fi ghting it out for the major waves by winning the Fortuna handicaps) at 14 years old. Declan prizes for years to come and hopefully tournament in October. He then fi nished the season in 7th position will make a real mark for the Falklands went on the win the November Décor with Ieaun in 12th. An incredible in overseas competition in the future.

TM PDF Editor

28 Sport

Marathon winner Robert Harden Marathon runners set off from the Town Hall in Stanley 26 miles in a serious gale he highest entry ever for the Argentina which we have come to Three Argentine women, Claudia TStandard Chartered Bank expect, but also entrants from Japan, Camargo, Carolina Rossi and Marina Marathon had not only a gruelling Chile, Kenya, Spain, South Africa, Moro took a clean sweep of the ladies 26 miles to run, but a serious gale to Russia, the USA and Zimbabwe competition and the Argentine team contend with on the day. making it a truly international event. entry took fi rst place in the team relay. 58 individual runners took part in Robert Harden, a physical training The Falklands Football Team was the eighth most southerly offi cial instructor from Mount Pleasant was the just a minute behind the winners marathon in the world as well as 18 fi rst past the line with a time of 2:52:39 and the Headquarters British Forces relay teams of four and an additional with second place Eric Kinyanjui of South Atlantic Islands chased them 42 entrants who took part in the fun Kenya just two minutes behind him. home for third. run. Pablo Ureta from Argentina claimed Frank Jaffray was the fi rst Falklands There was a large contingent from third place with a time of 2:56:16. born runner past the fi nishing post.

Falklands fi rst ‘international’ archery competitionTM rchery is a fast growing sport in Overall a top handicap score of The Falklands team reported it was Athe Falklands and in March the 1493 was achieved by fast improving a fun evening with great team spirit arrow-fi ring enthusiasts took up the Falklands junior James Tyrell with in both hemispheres. challenge of a virtual shoot against Kathryn McGeachie not far behind. The Bowmen were the victors on the Nonsuch Bowmen of Ewell in Event co-ordinator Jo Lazo was this occasion, but the Falklands are Surrey. delighted with her personal best score looking forward to a rematch in the The Bowmen opted for a which made her the third best scorer. future. handicapped indoor Portsmouth For the Bowmen club record holder The fi nal result: Nonsuch Bowmen shoot of 60 arrows, plus six sighters Mark Carne hit the best overall score an average of 1434 and the PDFper archer on 60cm faces. Editorof 458 which adjusted to 1452 . Falklands 1427.

29 Births, marriages and deaths Births marriages and deaths Births January 9 - Grace Elizabeth Kelly to Sandy and Phillip Kelly January 11 - Tyler David John Williams to Melisa Barnes Acevedo and Lee Williams January 13 - Thomas Floyd to Tracy and Stephen Floyd February 18 - Makenzi Daniella Louise Biggs to Terri-Sue Clifford and Christopher Biggs March 13 - Carli-Anne Hope Goss to Charlotte-Anne Mary Middleton and Michael Peter Goss March 31 - Thomas Alisdair Aldridge McLean to Nina Ann Aldridge and Stephen Thomas Turnbull McLean April 14 - Laken Louise Jaffray to Eva Lyn and Gerard Alan Jaffray April 24 - Annabelle Jasmine Hoyles to Bonnie Elizabeth Hamilton Curtis and Benjamin Noel Hoyles May 25 - Whitney Sammara Stewart to Charlotte Melizza McRae and Daniel Duane Stewart May 30 - Jaimes Stewart Lowe to Lucinda Marie Lowe June 6 - William James Bates to Barbara and James William Bates June 13 - Matthew Antony William Ellis to Louise and Antony Michael Ellis June 15 - Seth James Bonner to Christine Aislinn Ross and Ewen Shane Bonner June 26 - Patrick David James to Darren and Phillippa Christie July 9 - Penny Rose to Darren Harold and Anna Jenine Shepherd July 20 - Abigail Charlee-Rae to Alan Theodore and Donna Marie Yon

Marriages January 1 - Liam Steven Shelbourne and Caroline Wendy Reeves, 1 Watson Way, Stanley January 7 - Mark Andrew Brook and Emma Jane Edwards, Christ Church Cathedral,Stanley March 29 - David Hawksworth and Ginalyn Sandueta Juancho, Court and Council Chamber, Stanley June 9 - Karl Richard Nightingale and Sian Yvonne Ferguson, Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley July 21 - Fernando Cordiero Hernandez and Crystal Smith, Town Hall, Stanley Deaths January 14 - Samuel Sarrang, 33 years (Oiler F/V Cosecha, Indonesia) February 15 - Patrick Andrew Lang, 80 years (Falkland Islands) March 13 - Valeriy Kazanovsky, 24 years (Stevedore, Ukraine) April 4 - Chunwen Jin, 45 years (Seaman F/V Eun Seng 707, Peoples Republic of China) April 12 - Judith Elizabeth Gilbert, 61 years (Falkland Islands) July 24 - Anne Stephanie Howells, 61 (Falkland Islands) Congratulations ur oldest Falkland Islander, Eileen Pickford, celebrated Oher 102nd birthday on August 20, with a gathering of family and friends, some from Canada, at her home in Felpham, Sussex. We also discovered our oldest FIA member, Miss Florence Jackson, known as Jackie to many had celebrated her 103rd birthday earlier this year. As a free-lance journalist her fi rst visit to the Islands was inTM March 1988 and she was so impressed she returned with a party of seven in November 1989. Even at 103 she has fond memories of the Pitaluga’s at Salvador, the Barnes family who at the time owned Dunbar, the late David Gray at Sea Lion Island and especially Sian andd KKarll NNightingale leaving Christ a Christmas of a PDFChurch Cathedral after their weddingEditorMrslifetime Eileen at Port Pickford Howard. 30 FIA information Advertising The Falkland Islands Association The present circulation of the Newsletter is 4,500 Patron: The Rt. Hon. the Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, copies. It is distributed to Members of the Association, FRS. all Members of the House of Commons, the Scottish President: The Rt. Hon. The Lord Hurd, CH, CBE. Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, members of the Vice Presidents: General Sir Peter de la Billiere, KCB, House of Lords, all British Members of the European KBE, DSO, MC, MSC, DL. David Tatham CMG The Parliament, and to the press, radio and television. Hon. L Buxton, Mrs Merle Christie, Mr ECJ Clapp Many copies circulate in the United States, Australia, MBE, Dr. R Elgood, Sir Cosmo Haskard, KCMG, MBE, New Zealand, Canada and other Commonwealth Sir Jack Hayward, OBE, Sir Rex Hunt, CMG, Mr C E and foreign countries. Seven hundred copies are Needham CBE, Major R N Spafford, Councillor R E distributed in the Falkland Islands. Walker. Chairman: Mr Alan Huckle Advertising rates as follows: Vice Chairman: Mr Saul Pitaluga Hon Secretary: Mr Colin Wright Full page...... £250 Hon Treasurer: Mr James Wallace Half page...... £125 The Falkland Islands Association brings together those Quarter page...... £65 who support the continuing freedom of the people of Eighth page...... £35 the Falkland Islands. Its Constitution states that its Short insertions...... £3 per line objectives are: “To assist the people of the Falkland Islands to Discounts for four insertions by negotiation. A special decide their own future for themselves without being concession is offered to Association members living subjected to pressure direct or indirect from any in the Falkland Islands, who own small shops and quarter.” businesses, to advertise in the Newsletter at half the The Association is independent, but maintains close above rates. links with many other Falklands organisations. It is a major source of information about the Falklands. It publishes a newsletter, which all members receive, Membership Application covering political and social events in the Islands, wildlife, tourism, philately, and many other subjects. I/We would like to support the right of the people of it welcomes interest in the Falklands and invites all the Falkland Islands to decide their own future for those who share its aims to become members. themselves and to help them develop their Islands in accordance with their wishes. I/We wish to join the Falkland Islands Association 2012 dates for your diary (Individual members annual subscription £15, pensioners and students £5, corporate members November 11: Remembrance Sunday minimum £50, corporate sponsorship £500). December 6th: Rededication of the Falklands Memorial Plantation at Portsmouth Name...... Address...... December 8th: Battle Day and A G M in London ...... (booking forms enclosed) Connection with Falklands, if any...... In the previous issue we advertised the Falkland Signature...... Islands Exhibition was to take place at Croydon from Date...... Telephone ...... September 3-8. Unfortunately Annabelle Spencer who runs the exhibition has been in hospital for a serious Please return to : Falkland Islands Association, operation and is unable to go this year. Falkland House, 14 Broadway, London SW1H OBH. We wish her well. Applicants who do not wish to cut this form from a Newsletter are invited to use a photocopy of it. Members are requested not to use this form for membership renewals. Internet Links Bankers Order For more information on subjects mentioned in the Newsletter and to fi nd out more about the Falklands To...... links to websites are listed below: Bank Branch...... At...... http://falklandsconservation.com for more information Please pay to National Westminster Bank Plc, TM Piccadilly Circus Branch, 19 Shaftsbury Avenue, about albatross and conservation projects London WIV 7RL, Bank Code 56 00 29 for credit to : THE FALKLAND ISLANDS ASSOCIATION, Account http://www.standardchartered.com/fk/marathon/ No. 24223999, the sum of ...... pounds on receipt of Worlds most southerly marathon Page 29 this order and thereafter annually on the anniversary thereof. www.falklands.gov.fk for information about the Falkland Islands Government Name...... Address...... www.falklandislands.com to access the Tourist Board ...... website ...... Account...... Date...... http://penguin-news.com for regular news stories from Signature...... PDF Editorthe Falkland Islands

31 FFalklandsalklands fofocuscus BleakBleakerer IslandIsland

he northern half of Bleaker Island is a National Nature Reserve designated in T1967. The island is home to a wide variety of wildlife. A recent survey identifi ed 49 bird species on the island, 37 of which were confi rmed as breeding on site. Breeding species include Rockhopper, Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, Imperial and Rock Shags, many small bird species and several birds of prey, including Striated and Southern Caracaras. The island is also a regular host to Southern sea lions with some visiting Southern Elephant Seals. A total of 79 species of fl owering plant have been identifi ed on Bleaker Island. Flora includes the yellow and dog orchid, and lady’s slipper. A stretch of several kilometres of the east coast is vegetated by stands of tussac grass. Bleaker Island has been a sheep farm for more than 100 years. The island was managed by Arthur Cobb, a locally well-known agriculturalist and amateur naturalist, in the early 20th century who wrote a book on the subject, containing forty six of his own black and white photographs. The low aspect of the Island resulted in many ship-wrecks off the Island in the 19th and 20th centuries. There were fi ve ship-wrecks on Bleaker Island in the fi rst quarter of the 20th century. The most famous of these was the French tall ship ‘Cassard’ wrecked on the southern tip of the Island carrying a cargo of wheat in May 1906. The Island has been run as an organic sheep and cattle farm by Mike and Phyl Rendell since 1999, and has the small Bleaker Island Settlement located on an isthmus in the centre of its length. They built a self-catering cottage, ‘ Cobb’s Cottage’, and more recently a larger house, ‘Cassard House.’, The houses are comfortable and geared for family use with ‘Cassard House’ widely described as “luxurious,” with its triple glazing and underfl oor heating. Robert and Elaine Short also live on the island, operating the sheep farm and caring for guests. For more information on what is on offer at Bleaker Island contact Mike or Phyl on 00 500 32491 or email [email protected]

TM

Prime Bleaker Island lamb grazing on coastal tussac grass Sundown from Cobbs Cottage PDFCheeky Editor Rockhopper penguins Colourful King Cormorants Bleaker Island settlement with Cobbs Cottage to the right Pictures Sharon Jaffray